Massachusetts Wood Pellet Prices

Mass DOER Seasonal Survey of Wood Pellet Prices

Wood Pellet Price Survey

Pellet stoves, inserts, and boilers are increasingly popular options for heating in Massachusetts and throughout the country. In response to this interest, the Mass. Department of Energy Resources (DOER) is now providing wood pellet pricing information to give consumers a better sense of the pellet market.

Winter 2018

Type of Pellet

Price/Unit

Last Winter

Bulk

$260/ton*

$266/ton

Bagged

$290/ton

$293/ton

$6.68/bag

$6.80/bag

Prices are aggregated from DOER telephone surveys of wood pellet dealers who service Massachusetts households; Pricing does not include delivery.

Both hardwood and mixed blends are included in the average.

Bulk pellets are loose pellets that are brought to the user’s site in a truck that delivers directly into a storage silo using either compressed air or an auger conveyance system. The user must have capacity to store a minimum of 2-3 tons of loose pellets.

Bagged pellets are individual 40 lb. bags that can be purchased by the bag, or by a delivered pallet of bags usually totaling about one ton, based upon the user’s preference and needs.

Next Survey: Spring (April/May) 2018

Pellet Quality Information

If you own a pellet stove, it’s important to know that not all wood pellets are the same. When you purchase bagged pellets, look for products that have been tested by an independent laboratory and certified

by the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) Standards Program. All pellets that are certified will have a PFI label on the front lower third of the bag. Currently, twelve pellet manufacturing facilities in the U.S. participate in the voluntary certification. For more information on the standard, including certified companies and quality control parameters, please visit www.pelletheat.org.

Marketing terms can be confusing and manufacturers do not need to comply with a pellet quality standard. Bagged pellets that are not certified by PFI Standards Program will vary in ash content, moisture content, and heat output commonly referred to as British Thermal Units (BTUs). Burning uncertified pellets may mean you get less heat from the pellets and the efficiency and overall life of your pellet stove may be adversely impacted.